Lubricator.



R. E. DIGGINS.

LUBRICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.16, 1912.

1,120,699. Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

2 SHEETS *SHEET 1.

INVENTOR lV/TNESSES THE NORRIS PETERS 6a.. PNOTD-LITHQ, WASHING roN. D. C

WITNESSES R. E. DIGGINS.

LUBRICATOR.

APPLICATION TILED MAR. 16. 1012.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

THE NORR/b PETERS co Mom llrr INVENTOR ROBERT E. DIGGINS, OF BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA.

LUBRICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

Application filed March 16, 1912. Serial No. 684,357.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. DIGGINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bakersfield, county of Kern, State of Galr fornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in lubricators, the object being to provide a lubricator which is so constructed that the same can be readily attached to the steam pipe leading to the engine whereby the lubricant will be taken up by the steam passing through the same and carried to the steam chests and valves in order to keep the same thoroughly lubricated.

Another ob ect of the invention is to provi de a lubricator in which the lubricant within the chamber is forced into the steam chambers by hydrostatic pressure controlled by valves in order to regulate the supply.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lubricator which is exceedingly simple in construction and one which is formed of a casting whereby all danger of leakage is prevented thereby overcoming the main difiiculty with lubricators now in use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a multiple feed lubricator especially adapted for high pressure use whereby a number of valve chambers can be lubricated by the lubricator.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved lubrieator; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on line H of Fig. 3.

Like numerals of reference refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out my improved invention, I employ a rectangular shaped casting 1 having an oil chamber 2 at its lower end and at one end a central steam chamber 3. A water chamber 4 is formed in the upper end of the casting 1 having an outlet passage 5 communicating with the oil chamber 2 by a port 6 closed by a needle valve 7 which is mounted in a suitable stufling box in order to form a tight joint. The steam chamber 3 is provided with oppositely disposed threaded bosses 9 and 10 in which are secured the threaded ends of steam pipes 11 and 12 of the main steam line, the pipe 11 being an inlet pipe and the pipe 12 the outlet pipe extending to the engine whereby the lubricator can be placed directly on the steam pipe which supplies the steam to the steam chest in order to convey oil to the valve and piston with the steam. The casting is formed with an open top closed by a corrugated cover 13 forming a condensing surface for the steam as will be later described, said cover having a filling opening lel closed by a threaded plug 15 as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The end wall of the water chamber l over the steam chamber 3 is provided with a port 16 communicating with a passage 17 leading from the steam chamber 8 and through which a portion of the steam entering the steam chamber 3 from the inlet pipe 11 is adapted to pass into the water chamber and therein be condensed in order to maintain the water therein at the level shown and said steam exerts a pressure upon the water so as to force the water into the chamber 2 as will be later described. The port 16 is closed by a needle valve 18 working in a stufling box and by means of which the flow of steam into the condensing or water chamber can be regulated in order to increase the pressure as desired.

The steam chamber and oil chamber are provided with threaded bores 19 and 20 in vertical alinement in which are secured threaded nipples 21 and 22 between which is arranged a sight-feed glass tube 23, the nipple 21 being provided with a discharge nozzle 2%: having a needle valve 25 for regulating the flow of oil passing through the same which is also mounted in a suitable stuffing box as clearly shown. The nipple 21 is provided with an opening closed by a plug 26 to facilitate cleaning the same when desired, said nipples and glass forming a passage from the oil chamber to the steam chamber through which the oil is forced by pressure of the water passing through the port 6 whereby a sight-feed lubricator is formed. The oil chamber 2 is provided with a filling nipple 27 closed by a plug 28 whereby the same can be readily filled with lubricant and said chamber is also provided with a drain opening 29 in its bottom closed by a plug 30 whereby the chamber can be cleaned when desired. The bottom of the of supply.

edge of the casting in horizontal ahnement passage 5 is also provided with a drain 31 closed by a plug 32 in order to allow any sediment collecting therein to be readily removed.

A series of water chambers 32, 33, 34, are formed in the casting between the water chamber 4 and the oil chamber 2, each chamber being formed exactly alike and having oppositely disposed sight glasses 35 which are secured in position as herein shown by threaded collars 36 whereby an exceedingly tight joint is formed and at the same time the glasses can be quickly removed. Arranged over thewater chambers 32, 33, 34, along one edge of the casting is a steam passage 37 having an interiorly threaded end 38 in which a steam pipe 39 is secured extending from a suitable source Arranged along the opposite with the steam passage 37 are a series of delivery pipes 40 corresponding in number to the number of water chambers 32, 33, 34, each outlet pipe communicating with a frus'to-conicalreceiving chamber 41 having a contracted central portion as shown at 42 and the open end thereof communicates with a steam chamber 43 arranged above each of thewater chambers and in communication therewith.

Secured in the bottom of each of the water chambers 32, 33, 34, is a nipple 43 closed by a needle valve 44 mounted in a suitable bushing, 45 secured in the bottom of the casting and through which oil from the lubricating chamber 2 is adapted to be forced by the pressure of the water within the water chamber 4 and said nipples 43 are arranged in transverse alinement with the sight glasses 35 whereby the oil passing up through the water will be visible. The steam passage 37 is provided with a series of ports 46 corresponding in number to the number of steam chambers 43 and in horizontal alinement with the receiving chambers 42 through which steam is adapted to pass for blowing the oil rising to the surface of the water through the chambers32, 33, 34, into the outlet pipes 42 when it will be conveyed by the steam to the steam chests and valves. The ports 46 are each controlled bya needle valve 47 mounted in a suitable bushing 48 in the front of the casting whereby they can be independently operated so that each chamber forms an independent lubricator.

The operation is as follows. The valves I 7, 18 and 25 are closed and the plug 28 of the nipple 27 is removed and the oil reservoir 2 is filled with a suitable lubricant. The plug 15 in the cover 13 is then removed and the water or condensation chamber 4 is filled until it reaches the level as shown.

will enter the steam chamber 3 and by opening the valves 7, 18 and 25, the steam chamber 3 will be filled with live steam, a portion of which will pass up through the passage 17 into the condensation chamber 4 and exert a pressure upon a water, a portion of the steam condensing so that after the device has been once filled, the condensation of the steam will automatically maintain the water within the chamber at the desired level. The pressure exerted by the steam upon the water will force the water through the passage 5 and port 6 into the oil reservoir so as to force the oil out through the nipple 22, sight glass 23 and nipple 21 into the steam chamber where it will be taken up bythe steam and carried to the parts to be lubricated. It will be seen that the steam chamber isso arranged that the lubricant will be maintained at an even temperature in order to keep the same in a liquid state so that the same will readily pass through the discharge nozzle of the.

will be admitted fromthe passage 37 so as.

to blow the oil rising to the surface out through the pipes 40 when itv will be conveved to the parts to be lubricated From the foregoing descriptlon itwill be be carried off by the steam, whereby an even pressure is maintained at all times upon the water so that an even flow of oil will be obtained.

What I claim is 166 seen that the position of the port 16 in the, water chamber 4 will regulate the water.

1. A lubricator having oil and water chambers in communication, a steam chamber in communication with said oil and water chambers, valves for controlling the flow of steam, water and oil; to the respective chambers, a sight feed water chamber ar ranged between said oil and water chamber,

steam ports communicating with said sight feed chamber, receiving chambers arranged opposite said ports, and discharge pipes connected to said receiving chambers.

2. In a condensation displacement lubricator, the combination with a casting comprising a reservoir, of a steam chamber arranged above said reservoir and in communication with said reservoir, a condensation chamber arranged above said steam chamber and in communication therewith,

and a valve controlled passage leading from said condensation chamber to said reservoir.

3. In a condensation displacement lubricator, the combination with a casting comprising a steam chamber having inlet and outlet steam pipes, of an oil reservoir comn'ninicating with said steam chamber, means for controlling the supply of oil to said steam chamber, a condensation chamber in communication with the first mentioned chamber having a corrugated cover, said last mentioned chamber communicating with said oil chamber, and mean for controlling the supply of steam to the condensation chamber.

4:. In a condensation displacement lubricator, the combination with an oil reservoir, of a sight feed water chamber having communication with the oil reservoir, a water chamber arranged above said sight feed water chamber, a receiving chamber extending into said sight feed water chamber, a steam port arranged opposite said receiving chamber, and means for controlling the admission of steam to said sight feed chamber.

5. In a lubricator, the combination with an oil reservoir, of a water chamber arranged above said oil reservoir, a valve for controlling communication between said oil reservoir and water chamber, a sight feed water chamber arranged between the firstmentioned chambers, a steam chamber in communication with each of said chambers, a steam port communicating with the sight feed water chamber, a receiving chamber formed in said sight feed water chamher having a central contracted portion, and means for controlling the admission of steam to said sight feed water chamber.

6. A lubricator comprising an oil reservoir and a condensation chamber in communication with each other, a sight feed water chamber arranged between said condensation chamber and oil reservoir, a steam chamber having communication with said oil reservoir, a receiving chamber, an outlet pipe connected to said receiving chamber, a steam passage, ports extending from said steam passage to said sight feed water chamber, and valves for controlling said ports for blowing the oil oil of the water within the feed water chambers into the receiving chamber.

7. A condensation displacement lubricator comprising a water chamber. an oil reservoir communicating directly with said water chamber, a steam chamber in communication with each of said chambers, a sight feed water chamber having a receiving chamber, a steam port arranged opposite said receiving chamber. and means for admitting steam to said sight feed water chamber.

S. A condensation displacement lubricator having a sight feed water chamber, an oil chamber arranged below said water chamber communicating directly with said water chamber, a condensation chamber arranged above said sight feed water chamber and communicating with the oil cl1amber, a steam passage having a port communicating with the sight feed water chamber, a receiving chamber arranged within said sight feed water chamber opposite said steam port, and valves for controlling the admission of steam from said passage to said sight feed chamber.

9. In a lubricator, the combination with a condensation chamber, of an oil chamber in communication therewith, a sight feed water chamber communicating directly with the oil chamber, a water chamber arranged above said sight feed water chamber, a receiving chamber, arranged to one side of said steam chamber, a steam passage arranged to the other side of said sight feed water chamber, and a valve for closing said steam port.

10. In a lubricator, the combination with an oil chamber, of a sight feed water chamber arranged above said oil chamber, a nipple arranged in the bottom of said water chamber, a valve for closing said nipple, a receiving chamber formed in said water chamber, a steam passage, a port communicating said steam passage with said sight feed water chamber, and a valve for closing said port.

11. A lubricator having oil, water and steam chambers in communication witheach other, valves for controlling communication between said chambers, a sight feed water chamber, a receiving chamber formed in said sight feed water chamber, and a steam port arranged opposite said receiving chamber.

12. In a lubricator, the combination with a casting having a sight feed water chamber arranged centrally therein, a condensation chamber arranged above said water chamber, an oil chamber arranged below said sight feed water chamber, a passage communicating said condensation chamber with said oil chamber, a nipple arranged within said sight feed water chamber extending into said oil chamber, a valve for closing said nipple, a steam passage, a port communicating said steam passage with said sight feed water chamber, and a re ceiving chamber having a central contracted portion arranged within said sight feed chamber opposite said port.

13. A condensation displacement lubricator comprising steam. oil and condensation chambers. a passage extending from the bottom of said condensation chamber to the bottom of said oil chamber, a sight glass and nipples connecting the top admission of steam thereto and the discharge of Water. therefrom.

[14. A condensation displacement luhricatore having oil, steam and condensation chambers in communication with each other,

said condensation chamber having a valvecontrolled port communicating with the Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of new,

steam chamber for regulating the supply of steam thereto, said port forming a drain for said condensation chamber for maintaining the water level therein.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT E. DIGGINS.

Witnesses I C. W. NEWBERY,

M. M. GIBSON.

Washington, D. G. i 

